The Metabolism-Boosting Workout

It's one of our most flab-melting routines ever: Eight of the best lab-tested toners mixed together to boost your metabolism, with no sweaty cardio required. You'll get up to three times more firming per rep as you torch a third more calories each minute -- during and after your workout -- compared with typical strength training. The skinny secret? Supersets! Cutting out downtime between sets, as with these alternating pairings of moves that work opposing muscles, "increases your metabolism not only because your heart rate stays higher throughout but also because the body works harder afterward to recover," says Mark Schuenke, PhD, assistant anatomy professor at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine. Schuenke's research suggests that the bonus after-burn for a 140-pound woman can be up to 306 calories in the 24 hours postworkout. All you'll need is a set of five- to eight-pound dumbbells and a sturdy chair to net this slimming side benefit. Go on -- turn up the burn!

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Comments

Absolutely! Thank you for bringing this to our attention! I lead an aerobics class for active seniors, and I'm always on the lookout for new stuff. We can't do everything--- YET--- but I'll be incorporating what I can right away! I love the body balance that this series insists on.
- 9/27/2011 11:11:00 AM

Supersets are the staple of my exercise diet! While not every day can be an intense full-body workout like this, I LOVE doing supersets. It feels good to be sweaty and a little winded while doing strength training! :)
- 9/27/2011 10:43:08 AM

I found these in Fitness magazine a few weeks ago, but pages ripped out of a magazine are always harder to get excited about than seeing the video! Thanks for posting, I'll try this today!
- 9/23/2011 10:23:55 AM

Awesome! I've been thinking about starting to add strength training to my cardio and yoga/pilates. This is a great all-in-one no brainer!

For those discouraged by needing to register on the fitness website to see videos - just click on "Click here for more superset exercises" instead of the "watch video..." links. I did sign up and watch the videos, but they don't help much more than just reading the article on the fitness website, which has photos (and you can read/see without signing up!).
- 9/23/2011 8:25:31 AM

I did this workout last weekend after finding it in fitness magazine. Good workout. It left me sore for the next couple of days though; more so than my usual strenghth training. Good to see the video to see if I was doing the moves correctly.
- 9/22/2011 8:00:59 PM

I really like the idea; don't like that I need to sign up for an extra website to see the video. I think I know the bent row pretty well, but I'll stay in the Sparkpeople exercise area if I need a demo.
- 9/22/2011 2:18:57 PM

I've been looking for something like this. I've found some on the Men's Health Magazine website but this one looks fun too. These are perfect for doing in front of the tv at night.
- 9/22/2011 10:02:53 AM

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